THE STRUGGLE FOR IRAQ: DIPLOMACY; RUSSIA WON'T END ACCORD WITH IRAN TO BUILD REACTOR

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said today that he would send ''a clear but respectful signal to Iran'' that it must comply with international inspections of its suspected nuclear weapons program. But he told President Bush that Russia would go forward with its plans to help Iran build a nuclear reactor.

Mr. Putin's statement this morning that he would not terminate Russia's $800 million commercial nuclear contract with Iran came as a brief, and almost cryptic, aside in response to a question at a news conference with Mr. Bush at the presidential retreat at Camp David.

Eager to portray themselves as close partners in a fight against terrorism and proliferation, neither leader dwelled on their differences over support for Iran's nuclear program. They said they had warm and detailed discussions on other topics, including Iraq, the Middle East, Afghanistan and the twin nuclear threats of Iran and North Korea.

But Russia's help to Iran in its main nuclear reactor project has been a continuing source of tension between the two countries. That is true even though Russia has joined in setting an Oct. 31 deadline for Iran to open itself completely to international inspectors, who have found worrisome traces of highly enriched uranium at two sites in the country.

Mr. Putin's statement indicated that after two years of discussions, Mr. Bush has been unable to persuade his Russian counterpart that Russia's support of an ostensibly civilian nuclear energy program could speed Iran's ability to gain the raw material for weapons. His remarks also suggested broader differences in how they will approach the problem of proliferation.

Asked about the issue today, Mr. Putin said simply, ''As to the joint work, we are ready to pursue it.'' He gave no details, and immediately moved into a discussion of Iraq. Mr. Bush played down any differences, telling reporters, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency: ''You heard the president say that the I.A.E.A. process must go forward. We firmly agree. I found this part of our discussions to be very satisfactory.''

A senior administration official said after the meeting that Mr. Bush had not pressed too hard on the reactor sale in recent months because ''it is nearly completed.'' But the official said that Mr. Bush believed that if Iran defied the atomic energy agency, ''you'll see a lot of countries reconsidering their cooperation,'' and that Russia might not deliver the last, crucial pieces of technology.

''There was no commitment,'' the official said. ''We'll have to see.''

The meeting was intended to reinforce a relationship that began well after Mr. Bush's election, but has run into sharp differences -- first over Mr. Bush's decision to withdraw from the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty, then over Iraq and Iran.

''This visit comes at the confluence of two streams,'' one of Mr. Bush's senior advisers said on Friday. ''Iraq and other current issues, and our effort to take a relationship that is pretty good and pretty broad and to deepen it.''

The two men insisted today that they had done so, and aides pointed to an accord on military-to-military relationships. But at the same time, Mr. Putin kept his distance from Mr. Bush on several issues. He said he would not decide what help Russia would provide in the occupation of Iraq until a new resolution passes the United Nations, where there is an effort to press Mr. Bush to turn over more authority to the Iraqi Governing Council and to the United Nations than he has been willing to do.

''We have differences over Iraq, in terms of practical ways how to resolve this problem, but we had understanding on the essence of the problem,'' Mr. Putin said.

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But he said that relations were good and that problems would be solved ''without excessive emotions or ambitions,'' apparently a reference to the highly charged meetings between American and Soviet leaders during the cold war.

In another example of their different approaches, Mr. Putin pressed Mr. Bush to offer North Korea a guarantee of its security in exchange for its agreement to re-enter the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, which is racing forward at a pace matched only by Iran's.

''Russia believes ensuring the nuclear nonproliferation regime should be accompanied by North Korea receiving guarantees in the sphere of security,'' Mr. Putin said. He was referring to North Korean demands for what it calls a ''nonaggression pact'' with the United States. Mr. Bush has rejected entering such a pact, though he has repeatedly stated publicly that the United States has no intention of invading North Korea.

While they sounded friendly -- Mr. Bush referred to Mr. Putin as Vladimir and gave his highest compliment, ''Good job,'' for how he handled himself at the news conference -- the two men did not share the easy laughs they had in Crawford, Tex., last year. That may have been a reflection of the more formal environment of a news conference.

Yet at every turn, Mr. Bush and Mr. Putin said they shared the same goals: assuring that unconventional weapons do not fall into the hands of terrorists, that neither Iran nor North Korea develops nuclear weapons, and that democracy flourishes in Iraq. They cast their differences as tactical, and Mr. Bush said they shared what he termed ''a trustworthy relationship.''

''Plus, I like him, he's a good fellow to spend quality time with,'' Mr. Bush said.

But growing American concern about Russia's brutal military action in Chechnya led Mr. Bush to raise the issue, delicately, in his prepared statement today, saying that while ''terrorists must be opposed wherever they spread chaos and destruction, including Chechnya,'' a ''lasting solution'' would require ''respect for human rights and a political settlement that leads to free and fair elections.'' Mr. Putin did not discuss Chechnya in public today.

Mr. Bush seemed eager to portray Mr. Putin as a general supporter of America's approach to Iraq, especially after Russia sided with France and Germany in opposing the invasion of the country. Mr. Putin muted any criticism today.

Instead, he said progress was being made on carrying out the biggest single success in the relationship so far: the Treaty of Moscow, which calls for sharp reductions in both nations' nuclear arsenals.

A Russian reporter seemed less worried about America's nuclear power than about its visa power, saying Russian reporters were interviewed at the American Embassy before being allowed to accompany Mr. Putin. ''Can I be assured that my question will not lead to a denial of visa for me, personally?'' the reporter asked.